ESPN

Buster Olney

  (12:53 PM)

Hi, guys, hope all is well... I'm getting started a few minutes earlier, because I've got to leave at about 1:45. Lots of stuff going on -- the Red Sox want to see Billy Wagner in today's game against the Phillies, to make sure he's OK, and even if he does appear, it's no sure thing that he'll be moved to Boston. We'll see...

Cole (Springville, UT)

It's become abundantly clear that baseball needs replay. Umpires seem to be missing more obvious calls than ever. We have instant replay for Home Runs. When do you think MLB will incorporate it in other instances?

Buster Olney

  (12:54 PM)

Cole: Some folks who have served in advisory roles on this believe strongly that eventually -- maybe in another year or two -- that replay use will be expanded, to aid with plays like the Francoeur catch-or-no-catch that happened on Sunday, maybe some safe-or-out stuff on the bases. We'll see...

Charlie (Bethesda)

I've yet to get an ESPN chatter to admit it, but come on you can do it. Ryan Zimmerman is going to be a 30 HR kind of guy.

Buster Olney

  (12:55 PM)

Charlie: OK. You're right.

Esteban (DC)

Mr Olney,Almost nobody seems to be mentioning the braves, but they have a more favorable schedule than other teams down the stretch in the wild card race. If their starters continue to pitch solid 6 innings, the bullpen remains rested and somewhat solid, and if the offense can somehow continue to show power and score enough runs, do you really think they can win the wild card?

Buster Olney

  (12:56 PM)

Esteban: Agree with you about the schedule, and they probably have the best starting pitching in the league right now, but you still wonder if they have enough time to make up the deficit, with Lee throwing as well as he is for the Phillies and the Rockies performing so well. I wonder if their best hope would be a total collapse by the Dodgers, so that the Rockies would win the West and the Braves would slide in as the wildcard... We shall see.

GySgt Pappalardo (camp pendleton)

How far fetched is it that the Yankees can go all of the way tis year?

Buster Olney

  (12:57 PM)

Gunny: Not far-fetched at all; right now, they're almost certainly the best team in the majors. We'll see how their pitching holds up the rest of the way, and how healthy they are going into the playoffs.

Josh (MO)

Is there a better 1-2-3 in baseball right now than Carpenter-Wainright-Pineiro?

Buster Olney

  (1:00 PM)

Josh: Hmmmm... You'd have to think about CC-Burnett-Pettitte, or Vazquez-Jurrjens-Hanson, if you're talking about the present tense, and before last night's game, you might've mentioned Beckett-Lester-whoever - -and the same with Lincecum-Cain-whoever (although Lincecum has looked a little weary in his last two outings). We'll see if Washburn gets squared away to team with Verlander-Jackson. Don't think it's a slam-dunk for any particular trio, but you can make a strong case for your Three.

Alex Hassid (DC)

What do you think of the rumors regarding Petitte's desired return to the Yanks? Good move or bad move for the Yanks? Does it depend on Wang's health, Hughes total innings for the year, or something else?

Buster Olney

  (1:01 PM)

Alex: Andy has reached the stage in his career when he's year to year, and he told a reporter from the Daily News (I think it was Mark Feinsand, but I'm not totally sure) that he wants to come back -- and given how he is throwing, I'm sure it'll happen. He'll go year to year from here on out on his contract, and I'm sure that is the way the Yankees will want to do it, too.

kl (philly)

your opinion on the inside the park HR in citi yesterday? should it have been a ground rule double, maybe an instant replay argument?

Buster Olney

  (1:02 PM)

KL: The ball was in play. If Victorino had reached down and grabbed it, it would've been more clear to him that this was no different than having a ball one inch in front of the fence. It was a simple and rare mistake on his part, and he won't make it again.

Joey (rutland Vt)

Buster u r great I value ur opinon. Who is the team that will get a.l. wild card???

Buster Olney

  (1:03 PM)

Joey -- thanks, I hope you stop by Floyd's General Store in Randolph Center when you get a chance... To your question: yes, I think the Red Sox will be the wildcard, partly because the schedule for them is so incredibly soft down the stretch -- 14 of their last 17 against Baltimore, KC, Cleveland and the Jays...

Gm guy (Seattle)

If you had the choice would you take Happ or Hansen and why?

Buster Olney

  (1:05 PM)

GM guy: On the face of it, of course, you'd say Hanson, who has better stuff. But the more that Happ pitches and demonstrates his aptitude, the more that you'd think about him, because A) He's left-handed, and B) Hanson is widely viewed as a mechanical time-bomb because of the stress he places on his elbow... It may be that Hanson will pitch like that for 20 years, or maybe he'll break down earlier, but I know that this scares rival evaluators...

Russ Gil (Verona, New Jersey)

Wagner to the Sawks. Does it get done?

Buster Olney

  (1:06 PM)

Russ: I'd say that right now it's about 60-40 that it doesn't happen, for one reason or another.

Alex (Philadelphia)

Buster, who would you take for the next 5 years, Cano or Pedroia. Thanks

Buster Olney

  (1:07 PM)

Alex: Wow... That is a tough call. Total coin flip. You'd have to love Pedroia because he's a good player and for the intangibles, and on the flip side, Cano has more pure talent and has clearly worked to make himself better this year. I'd probably go Cano, but ask me in five minutes or 15 minutes or two days, and I might change my mind.

Louis (Montreal)

What is happening with Smoltz? Can it be only going from NL to AL?

Buster Olney

  (1:09 PM)

Louis: The Padres are 30th in runs scored -- and that said, his stuff was definitely better, especially his splitter and slider. He probably wasn't as bad as his performance against the Yankees indicated a few weeks ago, and he probably isn't as good as his numbers seemed yesterday. But he definitely showed he is going to help the Cardinals.

Harry (Babylon)

Buster - Any chance the Mets put Ollie Perez on waivers

Buster Olney

  (1:09 PM)

Harry: I'd bet that they've already put him on waivers and that he went unclaimed. Nobody else would touch that contract.

Scott (CT)

Cano. Little man big swing = breakdown.

Buster Olney

  (1:10 PM)

Scott: I hear you ... but whereas Cano has been a little up-and-down with his effort, Pedroia is like a can of Mountain Dew for the rest of the team with his daily effort -- in the same way I think Jeter has been for the Yankees. A great debate question...

Ed (Jersey)

Who has been the most important PLAYER for the Rockies based on the turnaround they've had?

Buster Olney

  (1:11 PM)

Ed: Tulowitzki, undoubtedly. When he started playing better, they started playing better. Keith Law had a nice piece about this on Sunday.

Kyle (Minneapolis)

Don't look now Buster but the Twins have risen from the dead (against KC, I know I know), but with the majority of their remaining games at home and against sub .500 teams, can they make a run at the AL Central?

Buster Olney

  (1:12 PM)

Kyle: You mentioned the exact right question ... will they do it against somebody other than the Royals, who are staggering through the second half of this season. It'll be interesting to see if the Twins' pitching holds up, and whether Morneau can bounce all the way back. The Royals are like the Washington Generals right now...

DJ (Cuse)

If yunel Escobar keeps his head in the game could he be a future star for years to come? Between him and Prado they have definatley been the Braves MVP's this year?

Buster Olney

  (1:14 PM)

DJ: Talent evaluators with other teams love Escobar and would love for the Braves to move him... But he's a terrific player who has a knack for hitting with RISP. He could be the type of player who is always wanted, but always seems to get in the middle of something, because of the nature of the mistakes he'll make, etc.

Jobin (D.C.)

hey buster curious what you thought about strasburg's new contract and how soon can you see him up in the bigs?

Buster Olney

  (1:16 PM)

Jobin: Given that he won't pitch in the majors this year, and that he has a four-year major league contract, my guess is that he'll be in the big leagues very early next season. They'll probably have some Joba Rules on him, and limit his innings to the 160 range...

Jack (Toronto)

You can keep your Pedroia and Cano. I'll take Aaron Hill.

Buster Olney

  (1:17 PM)

Jack: Touche. It's like the situation with SSs in 1999, when you had Nomar and Jeter and A-Rod... (although I'd have to say those three shortstops were better than the current class of second basemen).

Joe (NB)

Will Travis Snider be the position player Jays fans have been longing for? What does he and Adam Lind project as?

Buster Olney

  (1:17 PM)

Joe: yes, eventually. He can flat-out rake, and once he figures it out, he'll be fine...

JK (Denver)

No mention of Ubaldo? You know the pitcher who has gone 6IP in EVERY start since May 1? Who hasn't allowed more than 4 ER in all but 2 starts all season? Doing all this while pitching half his games in Coors? Let's give the guy some love. (And yes, Tulo is every bit of the key to success as well.)

Buster Olney

  (1:18 PM)

JK: yeah, he's been great, but you can almost draw parallel lines between Tulowitzki's season and that of the Rockies... When he took off, so did they.

mendel (fl)

Buster, any chance chris coghlan of the florida marlins, can compete for ROY? Hes already moved himself up to top 5 in almost every offensive category, in regards to rookies, and hes been on a tear the past 3 weeks!

Buster Olney

  (1:19 PM)

Mendel: It'll be tough for him to beat out Hanson or Happ, unless the Marlins suddenly vault themselves to the top of the division race. Those guys are going to get most of the publicity, which helps...

Joe (New York)

Parnell has hit Victorino and been up and in on Werth and Utley. Could be headed for an ugly one in Queens.

Buster Olney

  (1:19 PM)

Thanks for reminding me, Joe -- going to turn that game on the radio...

Buster Olney

  (1:21 PM)

By the way: Who is the home plate umpire? I am curious because of our umpire ejection fantasy league, if it, in fact, exists...

Don (NYC)

The radio should really be useful in the even that the benches clear .....

Buster Olney

  (1:21 PM)

Don: I'd be well taken care of -- Howie Rose does excellent work in describing that kind of thing.

Mike (St. Louis)

With the amount of off days the Cardinals have coming up the rest of the way and their huge lead over the slumping Cubs do you see them resting Carpenter and could this hurt his Cy young chances?

Buster Olney

  (1:22 PM)

Mike: Yes, I could definitely see La Russa resting his guys if he had the latitude in the standings to do it, and if he thought there was a need. Hey, if they have the flexibility, why not? Remember how it helped Beckett in 2007?

Dave (Toronto)

Stilll think Cleveland will win the Central, Buster?

Buster Olney

  (1:23 PM)

Dave: I picked 'em last year. I picked the Twins this year.

ben (los angeles)

Buster, The Dodgers seem like they are going to free fall soon. Any reason to think this is going to happen?

Buster Olney

  (1:24 PM)

Ben: yes, their bullpen has been worked a ton in the first 4 1/2 months... If I had to bet the family farm on either the Rockies or the Dodgers today, I'd take the Rockies -- and it would be the greatest comeback in history, literally. They were 15 1/2 out on June 3, and now that's down to 3 1/2, and they play host to the Dodgers in three games this week. This is a series that is not well-timed for L.A.

Fonzo (Kapolei, HI)

Aloha Buster! Everyone talks about the Dodgers lack of pitching, but their offense is offensive! What can/will they do this offseason? I don't see them going very far into the playoffs with this current group. They need another big bopper.

Buster Olney

  (1:26 PM)

Fonzo: They need Manny to be Manny. I read a thing by T.J. Simers yesterday in which he mentions that he and a lot of the Dodger staff think Manny is pressing. But it's fair to ask this question, too: Since he came back from his drug suspension, presumably clean, is it a coincidence that his OPS is about 300 points lower than it was when his suspension came down? It's an open-ended question and I don't know the answer.

Me (denver): [via mobile]

Do you think the Rockies are a top 5 team or a top 10 team

Buster Olney

  (1:28 PM)

You: If I ranked the teams in the majors now, I'd have the Yankees No. 1, the Rockies No. 2, the Angels No.3... Colorado is 50-22 since June 3, they play good defense, they have good pitching, Street has been terrific at closer, and their lineup is like an AL lineup in their collective patience and power.

Mark (Mich)

What do you make of Fernando Rodney's contract season (1 blown save)? Do you think he'll have much of a market in the winter?

Buster Olney

  (1:28 PM)

Mark: Yes. Somebody will pay him big dollars.

Shane (Knoxville)

is Derek Jeter the last Yankee to wear No. 2?

Buster Olney

  (1:29 PM)

Shane: Undoubtedly.

Joey (Rutlandvt)

Buster please this topic bothers me. Why can Ped users win batin titles ,cy youngs, mvp's world series but not b vopted 4 in HOF ballots it is ridiculous. either ban them or let em do it all if u r in league than u r eligable

Buster Olney

  (1:30 PM)

Joey: Agree, and we don't know exactly who did what, and when. So that's why I think there are only two options when it comes to the Hall of Fame ballot: Vote for nobody, or vote for the best players. And I vote for the best players, PED suspicion aside, because I don't know who did what, exactly -- and God forbid that I'd be wrong in guessing on some particular player.

Mike (Ohio)

So, its been 20 years since Rose was banned. Does he ever get into the Hall?

Buster Olney

  (1:31 PM)

Mike: Nope. Even if he was reinstated, I don't think the veterans committee will ever approve him, because his offense is considered the worst possible offense for any player.

Jesse (Ohio)

Is Matt LaPorta here to stay?

Buster Olney

  (1:32 PM)

Jesse: Yes, absolutely.

Burke (Queens)

what happens to sheffield after the season's end?

Buster Olney

  (1:32 PM)

Burke: Some team will sign him for about $800,000 to $1 million, and at some point during the 2010 season, there will be a flare-up about playing time or the contract. As soon as he stops hitting, nobody will give him a shot, but he can still hit.

Alex (Washington, DC)

What will it take for Jeter to win his first MVP this year? Obviously Mauer is having a monster season at a premium position. But SS is also a pretty important position, and Jeter's defensive metrics show him playing very well. Plus, he leads off and scores a ton, bats in more than a normal lead off man, and has shown a bit more power than usual. Oh yeah, and he's stolen a few bases. I'm biased for sure, but does his 1 month extra playing time pull him at least even with Mauer?

Buster Olney

  (1:35 PM)

Alex: If the Twins stay in the race down the stretch -- and maybe even win the AL Central -- then I think Mauer will get it. I've always thought this about MVP candidates from New York and Boston: They have an inherent advantage in joining the MVP contender field because the Yankees and Red Sox are usually part of the pennant races. But when it comes to actually getting first-place votes, it pays to be a star for a mid-market team or a small-market team like a morneau or Mauer from Minnesota -- because quite literally, the Twins could not win without Mauer being great, and that's the advantage that those guys always have at year's end.

Jeff (Los Angeles, CA)

Buster, Manny's OPS was .970 post-suspension up until last week. He's been in a 9 game slump. That's hardly reason to post an open ended question implying steroids were the cause of his incredible performance.

Buster Olney

  (1:37 PM)

Jeff: I'm not implying anything. I don't know why he's not hitting, and it's a fair question to ask (just as it was with A-Rod earlier this year): Is the slump of a 37-year-old player related to the fact that he no longer (presumably) takes drugs which conceivably aid with recovery?

Bill (DC)

Have you seen Jayson Heyward? What are your thoughts on him?

Buster Olney

  (1:38 PM)

Bill: I saw him play in spring training and immediately thought (in terms of size and talent) -- Darryl Strawberry. He's going to be a huge star.

LA (NY,NY)

who did you predict to be in the world series and who you see now in the world series?

Buster Olney

  (1:39 PM)

LA: I had the Rays against the Phillies before the season started. Now, with a mulligan, I'd take Rockies-Yankees.

Jeremy (Texas)

No Love for the Rangers so Far?? Buster, do you think the Rangers can over take the Angles for the West this year? Or should we just be looking at the wild card? Also, if Scott Fieldman keeps picthing like he is, and thought as to maybe him for cy?

Buster Olney

  (1:41 PM)

Jeremy: Yours is the first Ranger question I've seen... I'd still pick the Sox for the wildcard, but an executive made a great observation about the Rangers to me last week -- they are like the Rays of 2008, a team that you keep on expecting to collapse, but a team that just keeps rolling on and getting good pitching. And as time goes on, the Rangers have more reason to believe in themselves. Clearly, a lot of their future is based on how Holland and Hunter throw down the stretch.

Todd (Philly)

Say the Angels win their division. "Should" there be any question that Scioscia wins MOY?

Buster Olney

  (1:42 PM)

Todd: He would win, I'd bet, given all the problems the Angels have overcome, and I'd bet that Ron Washington would finish second, Girardi third...

Rob ((DC))

You would really take the Rockies over the Phils even though Cliff Lee has been virtually unhittable? That seems dubious. Also, are you purposely leaving utley out of the 2nd baseman disscussion because his inclusion is automatic?

Buster Olney

  (1:43 PM)

Rob: The Rockies are playing like the best team in the NL and they have been for about half of the season. And the second base question grew out of a Pedroia/Cano thing...

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL)

Back to Pete Rose for a sec. Will he eventually get in after he passes away? I hate to say that, but it seems just when things go his way, his mouth shoots it all down. Will his passing and time ever get him in?

Buster Olney

  (1:45 PM)

SteveFitz: I don't think he'll get in at any time, but his only chance will come after passes away, sadly... I think there's a lingering fear that he'll embarrass the sport, and after he passes away, then it'll be more about his numbers and performance and less about his personality.

J (NYC)

Rockies - Yankees would be great. The scores would be in the double digits for each team with those ballparks.

Buster Olney

  (1:45 PM)

J: Wow, you're not kidding... Lots of runs.

todd (philly)

so...to bookend a few questions....is Sheffield a HOF in your book?

Buster Olney

  (1:46 PM)

Todd: Yes, I'd vote for him... But I don't think he'll get in because of PED link -- about 30 to 40 percent of voters, I'd guess, will never vote for the PED-linked guys...

Reed (Pasadena, CA)

Buster: Can we agree that currently the Rockies seem to be playing above their heads and the Dodgers seem to be playing mostly below theirs? If that is the case, then with over a month left, shouldn't this even out, or even reverse? How long a group of players collectively outperform their career averages anyway.

Buster Olney

  (1:47 PM)

Reed: I don't know about that. The Rockies have been a great team for about half the season now. I think the Dodgers are underperforming, for sure, but they've also seen their bullpen erode and their starting pitching (which was thin to begin with) fray.

Chris (Boston)

Hey Buster - Love the chats... Have you gotten to watch either Tillman or Matusz pitch? What type of pitchers do these guys project to be, and could they lead to the "rebirth" of the orioles as contenders.

Buster Olney

  (1:48 PM)

Chris: Watched Matusz for a whole start and he got whacked around, but you could see in different sequences that great command of secondary stuff that scouts had been talking about. Hopefully, the O's young starters will take a big stride forward next year.

Buster Olney

  (1:49 PM)

Chris: Watched Matusz for a whole start and he got whacked around, but you could see in different sequences that great command of secondary stuff that scouts had been talking about. Hopefully, the O's young starters will take a big stride forward next year.

George (NY)

Buster: 30-40% might not vote for a PED user right NOW, but 10 years from now? Are you kidding? Most of them get in whether you like it or not and the most obvious HOFs like Bonds and Clemens will easily get in.

Buster Olney

  (1:50 PM)

George: We'll see. Remember, a lot of the voters have established their own personal precedents, and I think it's going to be a whole lot tougher than you believe. The fact that McGwire -- who, is, at the very least, a strong candidate with 583 homers -- hasn't polled more than 25 percent, and is declining, should be a real indicator.

Mike (Lake Forest)

I keep hearing people, including you, saying how the Dodgers bullpen and starting pitching have been a problem. Do you people watch the games before you comment on them? The Dodgers problem has been that they are not scoring runs. They keep losing 3-1 or 4-2. They are very rarely giving up more than 4 runs.

Buster Olney

  (1:51 PM)

Mike: So if what you're saying is accurate, why did Torre change closers the other day?

Pete (NY)

I mean, really, you're going to vote Barry Bonds and Clemens into the HOF yet Rose is still banned? That's madness.

Buster Olney

  (1:52 PM)

Pete: I have no control over Rose or his status. I can only control my own ballot, and besides, Rose will never be eligible for the voters to consider.With that, folks, my time is up ... thanks for all the great questions ... We'll see you next week.

Ant (STL)

Rockies the greatest come back in history? Maybe since division play. The Cards in 64 is tough to beat when you consider that the NL was just one big "division." It's a lot harder to do versus a whole league.

Buster Olney

  (1:53 PM)

Sorry, one more -- saw this. Quite literally, it would be the greatest ever, because the record deficit that a team overcame is 14 games, by the Yankees in 1978. The Rockies were 15 1/2 games deep on June 3, and now they're 3 1/2 games out. We'll see if they finish the job.